Apparatus for applying mobile films



4 She'ets-Sheet 1 P. J. MASSEY El AL APPARATUS FORAPPLYING MOBILE FILMS Filed sept. 11, 1935 Jan. 18, 1938.

Jan. 18, 1.938.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOBILE FILMS Filed Sept. 11, 1935 Ziy- Sheets-Sheet 2 Jeri arf/regg Jan. 18, 1938.

P. J. MASSEY ET AL APF-ARATUS FOR APPLYING MOBILE FILMS Filgd sept 411, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 18, 1938. P. J. MAssEY Er AL APPARATUS FOR APPIJYI-NGA MOBILE FILMS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed sept. 11, 1935 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FR APPLYING MOBILE FILMS Peter J. Massey, River Forest, Ill., and William F. Thiele and Bert F. Raprager, Wisconsin Rapids. Wis., assignors, by mesne assignments, oi nine-tenths to Consolidated Water Power & Paper Company, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin and one-tenth to Peter J. Massey, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 11, 1935, Serial No. 40,151

10 Claims.

flexible webs, the liquid or semi-liquid film prior to application to said surface must be worked, and smoothed so that the film when applied to the surface is uniformly distributed, smooth, of proper viscosity and devoid of lumps or streaks. To accomplish this pre-working and smoothing of the film the same is passed over the surfaces of a plurality of contacting rolls, known to the art as distributing rolls whereby the lm is passed from roll surface to roll surface, eventually being transferred to the applying or coating roll and thence to the surface to be coated.

Our invention relates to improvements in this type of apparatus, and is characterized in that, the liquid of semi-liquid film may be closely conf trolled as to thicknessand distribution in passage over the roll surface; adjustments may be conveniently made; the contacting rolls may be temporarily separated to effect cleaning thereof, to replace broken parts, or remove a broken web without affecting the initial adjustment of the velevational view of a portion of our device.

Fig. la is a similar view of a continuation of the device shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the distributing rolls in separated relationship.

Fig. 2a is a continuation of Fig. 2 corresponding to Fig. 1a.

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the means for separating the gate rolls from the distributing rolls.

Our invention is particularly adapted for distributing, smoothing and working a nlm or lms of coating material to carry out the invention described in the United States Patents to Peter J. Massey, Patents Nos. 1,921,368 and 1,921,369. However, it is to be understood that our present invention may find other uses, for instance, as an ink distributing mechanism for printing press or for distributing any type of coating material or dope" for fabrics or the like. For purposes of description our invention will be described as being used to distribute coating material for the coating of paper in accordance with the Massey patents above mentioned.

Referring in detail to the drawings I indicates a. coating machine with which our invention may be used. 'I'he machine comprises essentially two sets of substantially similar instrumentalities A designated generally at 2 and 3, being the mechanisms for respectively coating the upper and lower faces of a paper web 4 which passes continuously from the preliminary dryers 5. The web 4 after being coated is passed to the final dryers 6 wherein the web is dried to the desired degree. The upper mechanism 2 is suspended from a frame 'l which is supported by columns B and 9. The lower mechanism 3 may be mounted immediately beneath the mechanism 2.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 1A, I0

indicates a cylinder in which a piston II is positioned, said piston being connected to piston rod I2 which passes through the head of the cylinder I0. Cylinder I may be mounted upon trunnions or bearings I3 whereby said cylinder may be rocked upon movement of piston rod I2. lIhe end of piston rod I2 is connected to rod I3' which is journalled at its ends in opposite frame members I4. The frame members I4 are supported at their bottoms in oppositely positioned lugs or brackets I5, the supporting connection comprising a pivot I6 whereby the frame members may be rocked. Means (not shown) is provided whereby air or iluid under pressure may be introduced into cylinder I0 either above or below piston I'I, or, if desired. a vacuum may be established above or below piston I I within cylinder I0. In either case, a piston I I can bemoved upwardly or downwardly in cylinder I0 which, of course, causes cylinder I0 to rock about bearings I3 and frames I4 to rock about pivots I8. The purpose of so operating this mechanism will be hereinafter fully described.

A pair of standards I1 may be pivotally mounted upon frame members I4, said standards being swingable or rockable about pivots I8. The upper ends of each of the standards I'l carry bearings I9 which support roll 20 between them. A pair of standards 2'I may be rigidly mounted upon frame member I4, said standards carrying bearings 22 which/support roll 23. A bushing 24 is pivotally secured, as at 25, to an upper exten- Sion of standards I-1 upon each side of the machine, said bushing being adapted to receive one end of screw 26, said screw being threaded in said bushing. A bushing 21 is pivotally secured to an upper extension ofeach standard 2|, the opposite end of screw 26 being threaded in said bushing. A capstan 28 is mounted upon the central portion of Ascrew 26. vThe arrangement is such that, upon rotation of capstan 28 and therefore screw 26, rolls 28 and 23 may be adjusted with respect to each other, the opposite ends of screw 26 having pitches of opposite direction or the opposite ends may be pitched in the same direction but of different degree.

Referring particularly to the upper mechanism the apparatus hereinbefore described is l substantially duplicated. However, said apparayof said standards carrying bearings 38 and 38 respectively between which rolls 40 and 4| are mounted. The outer ends of standards 36 and 31, in this case, the lower ends, are adjustably tied together by means of screw 42 which' carries capstan 43, the ends of said screw being threadedly engaged in bushings 44 and 45, pivotally mounted upon standards 36 and 31 respectively. Similar to the corresponding apparatus in the lower mechanism 3, the contiguity of rolls 40 and 4| may be controlled.

Rolls 20 and 23 and rolls 40 and 4I, hereinafter referred to as fountain or gate rolls, are adapted to carry in their respective nips a quantity of liquid or semi-liquid coating, ink Aor the like,

l lwhich is delivered therefrom through appropriate agencies to the coating rolls, all of which will be hereinafter described.

Rolls 26, 23, 40 and 4| are covered with rubber, the rubber covering 46 on rolls 20 and 40 being of relatively high density and the rubber covering 41 on rolls 23 and 4| being a medium hard rubber. The rolls per se are constructed of metal, preferably of a non-corrosive type, and the rubber coverings 46 and 41 extend short of each encl of the roll, as shown and described in our co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No, 40,1150, filed September 11, 1935.

All of the rolls 20, 23` 40 and 4| are preferably of the same overall diameter and are preferably separately driven. In operation, rolls 23 and 4| are driven counter-clockwise and rolls 20 and 40 are driven clockwise. Rolls 23 and 4| are adapted to carry a film, of desired thickness, of coating material, ink or the like, which is adapted to be transferred to rolls osculating therewith, hereinafter described. Obviously, in utilizing a machine such as herein described it is desirable to apply different types of coating materials, inks or the like, and different weight or quantities of coating or ink to the web. In our machine such control is obtained primarily by the gate rolls 20, 23, 40 and 4|. To exercise such control in addition to the proper manipulation of capstans 28 yand 43 which controls the contiguity of each pair of rolls, said rolls are adapted to be driven at different peripheral speeds, that is, rolls 20 and 40 will be driven at a different speed than rolls 23 and 4|. It is preferred that the drive of rolls 23 and 4| be such as to drive said rolls from a speed equal to the speed of the rolls to which the film of coating material, ink or the like, is transferred to a speed approximately one-fourth asl much. Rolls 20 and 40 are driven over a maximum range of speed preferably from one revolution per minute to full speed corresponding to the maximum speed of rolls 23 and 4| In practice, a Ward Leonard drive is utilized to drive rolls 2|) and 40, said drive (not shown) comprising a direct current motor energized by a direct lcurrent generator both being separately excited and the generator being driven by any suitable prime mover. The speed of the motor may be controlled from approximately half speed to full speed by means of variation of the motor field current, that is, by reducing the field current for higher speeds and increasing the field current for lower speeds. The speed of the motor for speeds less than half speed is controlled by varying the impressed voltage upon the motor armature which is accomplished by varying the generator field current. To vary the speed of rolls 23 and 4| a mechanical speed changer of the reeves or link beltwtype is used, the speed changer being driven by any suitable means (not shown). It is obvious that the greater the differential in peripheral speed between rolls 2| and 23 and40 and 4|, the less will be the thickness of coating or other film applied to rolls 23 and 4| am, hence, less material will be transferred to the system.

In the lower mechanism the film of coating mato distributing roll 52 which revolves in a clockwise direction. The film is transferred therefrom to distributing roll 53 which revolves in a counterclockwise direction, thence to roll 54 which revolves clockwise. From roll 54 the film is transferred to form rolls 55 and 56 both of which revolve in a cou'nterclockwise direction. Form rolls 55 and 56 transfer the film to coating or film applying roll 51 which revolves in a clockwise direction and by which the film is applied to one surface of the web 4.

In the upper mechanism 2, the film of material carried upon the surface of roll 4| is transferred to the surface of roll 58, which revolves in a clockwise direction. From roll 58 the film is transferred to roll 59 which rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Roll 59 passes the film to roll 60 which revolves in a clockwise direction. Roll 60 transfers the film to the surface of roll 6| which rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. From roll 6| the film is passed to rolls 62 and 63, both of which revolve in a clockwise direction. The form rolls 62 and 63 pass the film from their surfaces to the surface of the upper coating or film applying roll 64 whereby said film is applied to the upper surface of the web 4 simultaneously with the application of a similar film to the lower surface thereof by roll 51.

Rolls 51 and 64 revolve at the same peripheral speed which is equal to the linear speed of web 4. In the lower mechanism 3 rolls 52, 53, 54,y 55 and 56 all revolve at the same peripheral speed as roll 51 and in the upper mechanism 2 rolls 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62 and 63 revolve at the same peripheral speed as coating or film applying roll 64. It will be noted that all of the rolls comprising the lower mechanism 3 with the exception of the form rolls 55 and 56 have their axes disposed in the same horizontal plane. Similarly all of the rolls comprising the upper mechanism 2 with bers of relatively great Vweight such as the rolls herein used, being supported only attheir ends, deflect due to their weight. Byv disposing substantialiy all of the rolls in a lcommon horizontal plane. the deection of all of said rolls is in the same direction and a film of uniform thickness may be carried throughout the entire surface of each of the rolls. 'I'his is a very important feature of our invention in view of the fact that the films of coating material, for instance, applied to the web are applied as finished illms necessitating no further working or smoothing after application to the web. Consequently said film must be prepared with. the highest degree of accuracy and care. particularly with respect to its thickness. In addition, it will be noted that the rolls comprising the upper and Nlower mechanisms, that is, rolls 59, 59, 60,- 9I, 92 and 93 and rolls 52, 53, 54, 55 and v59 are all of different diameters.

It can readily be seen that inasmuch as the peripheral speeds of all of said rolls are equal, the fact that the diameters are different prevent the surfaces of adjacent rolls from repeatedly contacting along the same line. In other words, a portion of they surface ofv roll 52, which at one revolution contacts a predetermined portion of the surface of roll 53, will not again contact said predetermined portion for a long period of time. In this manner the surfaces of the rolls are maintained in uniform condition and ridges will not be formed upon the coating film carried upon the surfaces of the rolls. In order that the direction of rotation of the coating rolls be correlated with respect to the direction of rotation of the gate rolls in both the upper and ,lower mechanisms, an additional roll'is provided in the upper mechanism 2, namely roll 58, which serves merely as -an agency `fr changing the direction of rotation.

Roll 52 is carried by bearings 55 which, in turn, are carried by standards 96 positioned upon each side of the machine.` Standards 95 are pivotally mounted-as at 61 to lugs 99. Each of the standards 95 are provided with upward extensions 99 which carry guides 10. A bearing block 1i is slidably positioned in said guides and `may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly by means of capstan screw 12. A roll 13 may be Journalled in bearings 1i and is adapted to be disposed in osculating position with respect to roll 52. Roll 13 is an idler roll and is driven only by means of its contact with roll 52.

Roll 13 in so contacting roll 52 assists in working and which action further assists in working and smoothing the'coating material carried upon their peripheral surfaces.

Roll 54 is carried by bearings 19 which, in turn', are mounted upon standards 19 positioned at each side of the machine, said standards being pivotally supported as at 99 upon lugs 9i.

Roll 59 is carried by bearings 92 which are slldably positioned in guides u, said guides being carried by standards 94 upon each side of the machine.

Standards 94`are pivotally mounted as at Il upon lugs 99. Bearings 92'may be moved upwardly or downwardly thereby moving roll 99 upwardly or downwardly by means of the ad- Justing capstan screw l1. Roll 95 is carried by bearings 99 which, in turn, are carried by standards 99 also pivotally mounted upon lugs 99 as at 95. Standards 99 comprise a frame which embraces a portion of standards 94 and the cen:

l ter line of bearings 99 can be changed with respect to the center line of bearings 92 by means of set screws threadedly positioned upon opposlte sides of each of the standards I9 and adapted to bear upon the guide portions oi' standards 94.

Rolls 59, 59, 90, 9i, 92 and 93 are mounted in substantially the same manner as rolls 52, 53. 54, 55 and 59. To facilitate and simplify the description only those portions of the upper mechanism associated with said rolls which differ from the lower rolls will be described. In view of the fact that rolls 59 to 99 inclusive are posivtioned above the passing web 4, said rolls are disposed upon suspended supports. all of said supports being pivotally connected to the frame 1. Roll 99 has associated therewith an idler roll 9i which is journalled in bearings 92 movable in guides 93. The function of the roll 9| is similar to that of roll 13, said roll being adapted to bear upon the surface of roll 90 and is driven only through its contact with roll 90. Similar to rolls 52 and 53, rolls 59 and 90.may be oscillated longitudinally by conventional means (not shown). The mounting of rolls 92 and v93 is similar to that of rolls 55 and 59 with theexception that the standards-which carry rolls 92 and 93 are suspended.

Coating rolls 51 and 94 are preferably driven by means of conventional cone pulleys and belt (not shown) from the indriving shaft' of dryers 5 or 6. Rolls 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 and rolls 58, 59, 90, 6|, 62l and 93 may be driven from rolls 51 and 54 through a suitable train of gears and indriving shafts (not shown). In place of said gear train, if desired, the indriving shafts of rolls 51 and 94 may drive alternating or direct current generators. Either alternating or direct current motors may then drive the rolls, above mentioned, through suitable reducing gears. each roll being driven by a separate motor. If an alternating current generator is driven by the indriving shaft of rolls 51 and 94 the usual induction motors of relatively high speed and relatively small diameter may be used and the vcorrect peripheral speed is'obtained by means oi' the gear ratio between the motor and the rolls. As the speed of the rolls 51 and 94 is changed from time to time the induction motors will foilow as the slip of the induction motor changes very little with the change in frequency of the generator. On account of the simplicity of operation of the induction motors they are preferred to direct current motors, however, a direct current generator and direct current motors may be used by Aseparately exciting all of the direct current motors and generator. The voltage of the generator will then vary with the speed of rolls l61 and 84 and consequently the speed of the direct current motors will vary as the: impressed voltage varles and thereby the speed of the rolls will follow the speed of the coating rolls.

As has been hereinbefore described the efficacy of our machine resides in the ability to appbr a film of predetermined thickness and quality to the surface of a passing web. To obtain such film the material is passed over the surfaces of a plurality of distributing rolls which passage works the coating material upon the surfaces of the rolls and reduces the film to the proper thickness and smoothness. Obviously, therefore, it is essential that close control be maintained of the proximity or contiguity of the various Oscuis pivotally connected to a pin 98 carried by standard 66, said bushing being provided with a slot 99 in which pin 98 is adapted to be positioned.

A screw is threadediy positioned at each of its ends in bushings 94 and 91 respectively, said screw being operable by means of a capstan |0|. The arrangement is such that by manipulation of capstan |0|, standard 66 and frame member |4 may be positioned a desired distance from each other and, consequently, the sux-faces of rolls 23 and 52 may be positioned a predetermined distance from each other. Screw |00 functions as a spacer and when operating to control the distance between rolls 23 and 52. said screw acts as a compression member, roll 23 being urged toward roll 52 by means of compressed air in the lower portion of cylinder i0. The threads at opposite ends of screw |00 may be pitched in Opposite directions or said threads may be pitched in the same direction but of a different degree.. In this manner the proximity or contiguity of roll 28 with respect to roll 62 may be very closely controlled. In practice this proximity may be controlled to a fraction of one-thousandth of an inch.

In a similar manner the proximity of rolls 62 and 63 are controlled, a bushing |02 being pivotally secured to pin 98 and a bushing |03 being pivotally secured to pin |04 carried by standard 16, bushing |03 being provided with a slot similar to slot 99. Bushings |02 and and |03 may be operatively connected by means of capstan screw |05 which functions similar to screw |00 to control the spacing or degree of contiguity of rolls 52 and 63.

The spacing of roll 53 with respect to roll 54 is controlled by means of an arrangement similar to those described with respect to rolls 28 and 62, and rolls 52 and 63. In view of the fact that the mechanism is identical with that hereinbeforev described, it is believed that the same will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description. Y

An arm |06 is carried by bearing 18, said arm in turn carrying pin |01. Bearing 88 is provided with an arm |08 which carries pin |09. A bushing ||0 may be pivotally secured to pin |09 and a bushing may be pivoted to pin |01, said bushing being provided with a slot ||2. A capstan screw ||8 operatively connects bushings ||0 and v||| in a manner similar to the capstan screws hereinbefore described. By this arrangement it `out of adjustment. yto separate each of the rolls from one another can readily be seen that standard 89 which carries roll 66 may be spaced a desired distance from standard 18 which 'carries roll 64 and inasmuch as standards 89 and standards 84 may be adjusted relative to each other, the manipulation of capstan screw ||8 also controls the .relative positions of standards 19 and 84. In this manner the degree of contiguity or .proximity ofl roll 54 and rolls 66 and 68 may be' controlled.

Coating roll, or film applying roll 61 is mounted upon bearings ||4 which, in turn, are supported by standards ||6. Bearing ||4 carries an upwardly extending lug ||8 which. in turn, carries pin ||1. Bearing 88 has an outwardly extending arm ||8 which carries pin ||9. A bushing |20 is pivotally secured to pin ||9 and a bushing |2| is pivotally connected topin H1, said last mentioned bushing being provided with an elongated slot |22 in which pin ||1 is adapted to be dis-- posed. A capstan screw |28 operatively connects bushings |20 and |2| and controls the degree of contiguityy of rolls 66 and 66 with respect to the coating roll 61.

The arrangement for controlling the contiguity or proximity of the rolls constituting the upper mechanism 2 is identical with that described in conjunction with the lower mechanism, and to facilitate and clarify the description and prevent duplication said control mechanism will not be described in detail.

As has been hereinbefore described, the various capstan screws between the adjacent rolls function as spacers or compression members when the device is in operation. All of said rolls are brought to the vpredetermined position determined by the adjustment of said capstan screws by means of the application of air or other uid under superatmiospherlc pressure within the lower portion ot cylinder i0. It can readily be seen that when piston acts to move frame member I4 in a. clockwise direction, pins 98, |04, |01 and ||1 will be positioned at the extreme left end of the slots in which said pins are respectively positioned. It frequently happens, in paper mills or in printing presses, that the web 4 breaks. If this breakage occurs while said web is passing over the various distributing rolls comprising the lower mechanism, said web would tend to wind upon one or more of the rolls. Obviously if this situation occurs the winding web would tend to force the rolls away from each other. However, in view of the fact that all of the rolls are ultimately urged towards each other by means of fiuid under pressure within cylinder i0, a broken web or any foreign substance interposed between adjacent rolls would not cause any breakage of the machine since piston would merely be urged against a cushion of air within cylinder |0.

In addition, in view of the fact that close adjustment of the proximity of the rolls is of vital .importance it is desirable that the breakage of a web or the interpositioning of a foreign substance between adjacent rolls would not throw said rolls Further, it may be desired without changing the ultimate adjustment of the rolls. Each of these situations can be taken care of in our machine without the necessity of laboriously re-adjusting the capstan screws.

If it is desired to separate the rolls. it is merely necessary to introduce iluid under pressure above piston within cylinder |0 and relieve the pressure below said piston. When this is done rolls 55 and 66 are rocked about pivot 86 in a counter-clockwise direction and are separated about pivot 80 and is separated from rolls 55 and 58 a distance equal to the length of slot ||2. In

' the slots in bushings 91 and |03.

vso

like manner each oi the rolls 53 and 52 rock in a counter-clockwise direction about pivots 18 and 81 respectively a distance equal to the length of The frame member I4 also rocks in a counter-clockwise direction a distance substantially equal to summation of the distances comprising the various slots. However, rolls 20 and 23 do not separate from each other in view of the fact that both of said rollsmove with frame member |4 as a unit. The position of the machine when the rolls are separated as described above is clearly shown in' Figs. 2 and 2a. lIt can readily be seen that after said rolls have been separated in theA manner hereinabove described, uid under pressure may be applied to the lower side o1' piston-|| and the pressure may be -relieved from the upper side of said piston. 'I'he resulting action of the piston moves all ofthe standardsV in a clockwise direction about their various pivotal supports until the pins carried by the standards again contact the left ends of the variousbushing slots. It

`can readily be seen that in this manner the machine can be substantially instantly brought to operating condition without the necessity "of readjusting or ite-manipulating the capstan screws.

'I'he same operation can be carried out with respect to the upper mechanism 2. .However, in

the case of the upper mechanism lthe standards rotate about their suspending pivots. `If the rolls are to be maintained in separate relationship for a considerable period of time, it is not necessary tomaintain pressure on the upper side of piston within cylinder I0 since the standards will remain in their canted position under the influence of gravity. However, in view ofA the fact that the-upper standards would tend to return to vertical position, thereby bringing the rolls into contiguous position, means is provided for positively holding the frame member 34 in rocked position thereby holding all of the standards in canted position. 'I'his means comprises a platform |24 which is swingably positioned upon pin |25 carried by bracket |28 mounted upon column 8. Pin |25 comprises an extension of rod |21 which carries at a lower end a bevel gear |28 which meshes with bevel gear |29 carried upon shaft |30. A hand wheel |3| is rigidly connected to shaft |30 and functions to rotate said shaft together with shaft |31. When air under pressure is introduced into cylinder 29 at the lower side of piston 3|, and frame member 34 is rocked vin a clockwise direction, platform |24 is swung to a position parallel to column 8. After frame member 34 has been brought to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 or to the position shown in Fig. 2, platform |24 is rotated by means of hand wheel |3| to its extended position whereby the end of frame member 34 can be supported thereon. In this manner the. upper rolls may be maintained in spaced relationship without the necessity of maintaining a continuous supply of fluid under pressure for cylinder 29.

To wash or clean rolls 52, 53, 54, 55, 58 and 51, and rolls 58, 59, 80, 8|, 52, 83 and 84, means is provided whereby frame members I4 and 34 may be rocked t'o separate rolls 23 and 52 and rolls 4| and 53 Without separating the remaining rolls. This means comprises a bushing |32 having a forked end |33 which is adapted to embrace an eccentric |33' carried by pin |34. An

arm |35 is keyed to pin |34 and is adapted rotate eccentric |33'. A bushing |38- may be pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of standard 88, said bushing being provided with a slotl |31 which embraces pin |30 secured to said standard. A capstan screw |39 operatively connects bushings |32 and |38, said screw being similar to and functioning in a similar manner `to 2. said apparatus functioning in an identical.

manner.

Rolls 84 unlike roll 51 which is mounted upon the ixed bearing ||4, is mounted upon a oating bearing |40 which is pivotally secured at |4| to standard |42 which, in turn, is supported by frame 1. Bearing |40 has an outwardly extending arm |43 which is pivotally and slidably associated with rod |44 the connection between arm |43 and rod |44 being buffed or cushioned by coilsprings |45. Rod |44 is connected at its upper end to a suitable motor driven capstan screw (not shown). By this arrangement the contacting pressure of roll 84 may be controlled by raising or lowering rod |44.

A cleaning roll |48 is disposed in contacting relationship with coating roll 51. A similar cleaning roll is associatedrwith coating roll 84 and the mechanism to be hereinafter described relative to said cleaning roll is duplicated in the mechanism 2. Roll 48 is mounted upon bearings |48 which in turn are supported by standards |50, pivotallymounted at |5| to lugs |52. Each oi the standards |50 may be provided with an outwardly extending arm |53 which is pivotally connected at its end to piston rod |54. A piston |55 is mounted upon the end of piston rod |54 which is adapted to be slidably positioned Within fluid cylinder |58. Cylinder |58 is pivotally mounted at |51 to supporting lug |58. The arrangement is such that when uid under pressure is introduced into cylinder |56 beneath piston |55, standard |50 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction thereby bringing roll |48 into contiguous relationship with roll |51. f

A bushing |59 is pivotally connected at i8 to standard H5. A bushing |8| is pivotally connected to standard |50, said bushing being provided with a slot |82 which is adapted to embrace pin |83-secured to standard |50. A capstan screw |84 is connected at its ends to bushings |59 and |8| and is adapted to control the spacing' between rolls |48 and 51. A set screw |85 is threaded into the standard |50, the end thereof projecting into recesses |86 in which bushing |8| is positioned. By the provision of said set screw the movement of standard |50 away from standard ||5 and, consequently, the movement of roll section areadapted to serve as cleaning rolls for u the coating rolls 01 and 04 respectively. In view of the fact that the films of coating material applied to the surfaces of the web 4 are in their nished condition immediatelyafter application, it is obvious that any `accumulations or deposits upon either of the coating rolls would tend to disrupt or disflgure said film. Consequently, the cleaning rolls hereinabove described are provided. The roll |40 and its companion roll in the upper mechanism have relatively hard porous surfaces and may be constructed of stone, Stonite or other artificial stone. Accumulations or deposits removed from rolls 51 and 64 by the cleaning rolls are scraped therefrom by means of the blades |01 which. in turn, are mounted upon brackets |00 supported by arms |89. Web 4 after passing between coating rolls 51 and 64 have deposited upon their surfaces a nlm o1' coating material. In order that said material can be deposited in its nal smooth form'it must contain a substantial quantity of moisture. Consequently, when web 4 leaves the coating rolls its surfaces containa coating material which is relatively moist. A conduit |10 supported at one end by meansof bracket |1| secured to the supporting rod |12 is positioned above the path of travel of the web 4. In likemanner a conduit |13 is supported by means of bracket v|14 to the supporting rodl12, said latter conduit being positioned beneath the path of travel of the web. Both conduits |10 and |13 are provided with discharge openings of nozzles |15 and said conduits are connected to a suitable source of warm or hot air under pressure which is discharged into contact with the upper and lower coated surfaces of the web 4. After passing between conduits |10 and |13 the web is trained around guide roll |10. In passing over said guide roll warm or hot air under pressure is discharged through nozzles |11 provided in the wall of an arcuate conduit |18 which comprises a vertical extension' of conduit |10. After passing over guide roll |16 the web 4' is trained over drier roll |19 which comprises one roll of the drier bank 6. In passing over roll |19 warm or hot air under pressure is discharged through nozzles |80 provided in an arcuate vconduit |8| which conforms with a portion of the periphery of roll |19.

The end oi' conduit |10, namely, that end which is adjacent roll |10 is provided with a series of nozzles |82` which discharge streams of air between the lower face of the web 4 and the surface of roll |16.- In this manner a iilm of air is provided between the lower face of the web and the surface of the roll and, consequently, the coating upon said web is detrimentally affected by the contact with the surface of roll |16. In like manner discharge nozzles |83 in conduit |18 discharge warm or hot air between web 4 and the surface of the drier roll |19, the purpose being similar to that hereinbei'ore described.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of pivotally mounted standards, a roll carried by 'each of said standards, means connecting adjacent standards, adjustable to control the degree of contiguity of the rolls carried by said adjacent standards, single means for urging said adjacent standards together to maintain said rolls at the adjusted degree of contiguity, said urging means being operable to rock said standards about their pivotal mounts away from each other to separate said rolls.

2. In a device of the class described, a series of pivotally mounted standards, a distributing roll carried by each of said standards, adjustable means connecting adjacent standards for limiting the minimum and maximum distances bethe minimum. and maximum distances between.

adjacent standards, and single means for moving all of said standards to their proximate or remote positions.

4. In a device of the class' described, a series of pivotally mounted standards, a distributing roll carried by each of said standards, micrometric adjustable means interposed between adjacent standards for limiting the proximity vof said adjacent standards, and the degree of proximity of said rolls, and means providing for temporary separation of said standards and rolls carried thereby without disturbing the adjustment of said micrometric means.

5. In a device of the class described. a plurality of pivotally mounted standards, a roll carried by each of said standards, means connecting adjacent standards, adjustable to control the degree of contiguity of the rolls carried by said adjacent standards, means for urging said standards together to maintain said rolls at the adjusted degree of contiguity, said urging means being operable to rock said standards about their pivotal mounts away from each other to separate said rolls, said urging means comprising a piston rod operatively connected to one of said standards, a piston carried by said piston rod, a cylinder in which said piston operates, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into said cylinder.

6. In a device of the class described, a pivotally mounted frame, a pair of gate rolls carried by said frame, said gate rolls being osculatlng and carrying a quantity of mobile material in their nip, a plurality of pivotally mounted standards, a distributing roll carried by each standard, one of said distributing rolls being adapted to contact one of said gate rolls, adjustable means connecting said frame and the adjacent standard whereby the degree of contiguity of said gate roll and distributing roll is controlled, similar adjustable means connecting adjacent standards together whereby the degree of contiguity of adjacent distributing rolls is controlled, and means for maintaining said roils in adjusted contiguous relationship, said last mentioned means being operable to rock said frame and standards to separate adjacent rolls.

7. In a device of the class described, a plurality of pivotally mounted standards disposed in seriatim, micrometric means connected between adjacentstandardsforcontrollingthedegree of proxy imity of said adjacent standards, contacting distributing rolls carried by said standards for distributing and passing a mobile material from roll surface to roll surface, means for simultaneously urging saidstandards together to a distance predetermined'by said micrometric means, said urging means being operable to temporarily .separate said standards.

8. In a device of the class described, a series of pivotally mounted standards. a distributing roll carried by each of said standards, means comprising a lost motion link connecting adjacent standards together, said link permitting a limited degree of independent movement of said standards relative to each other, and means for moving said standards to both limits of movementor their connecting links.

9. In a device of the class described, a series of standards, adjacent standardsof said series being movable toward and away from each other, a

s distributing roll carried by each of said standards,

adjusting means interposed between adjacent standards for limiting the proximity of said adjacent standards an`d the, degree oi' proximity of said rolls, and means providing for temporary separation of said standards and .rolls carried thereby without disturbing the adjustment of said adiusting means.

10. In a device of the class described, a plurality of standards disposed in seriatim, adjacent standards being movable toward and away from each other, adjusting means connected between adjacent standards for controlling the degree of proximity of said adjacent standards, distributing rolls carried by said standards with their respective surfaces normally in film transferring relationship for passing a mobile material from roll surface to roll surface, means for simultaneouslsr urging said standards together to a distance predetermined'by said adjusting means, said urging means being operable to temporarily separate said standards. l

PETER J. MAssEY. WILLIAM F. TmEIE. BERT F. RAPRAGER. 

